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I-55 construction over Des Plaines River Bridge to wrap up next week

By LAUREN LEONE–CROSS - lleonecross@shawmedia.com

Aug. 12, 2014

Rob Winner – rwinner@shawmedia.com

Caption

State Rep. Larry Walsh Jr. announces Tuesday that construction on Interstate 55 over the Des Plaines River Bridge should wrap up next week as US Sen. Dick Durbin listens during a press conference at CenterPoint Properties.

JOLIET – Interstate 55 construction over the Des Plaines River Bridge is wrapping up next week, two weeks ahead of schedule.

That's according to state Rep. Larry Walsh Jr., D-Elwood, who spoke Tuesday during a news conference at CenterPoint Properties Joliet location, alongside U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

Construction is expected to be completed by next week, Walsh Jr. said.

The announcement comes just three weeks after five people, including two from the area, died July 21 in a collision involving a semitrailer in the I-55 construction zone. So far this year, the construction zone has seen eight fatalities.

This is the second year of the Des Plaines River Bridge construction project. In 2013, there were 12 injury crashes, including two fatalities, due to sudden backups in the construction corridor.